The TDCJ promotional video featuring Officer Elliot Ruiz sheds light on his career and experiences but also exposes the deep flaws of TDCJ. While Ruiz’s dedication may be sincere, the video is less about him and more about a system skilled at masking its true nature. TDCJ avoids discussions of rehabilitation and justice, offering instead propaganda designed to maintain a facade while perpetuating dehumanizing practices. What is notably absent is any mention of TDCJ’s mission: "to provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, reintegrate offenders into society, and assist victims of crime." The incarcerated individuals central to that mission are rendered invisible, reduced to silent props in the background. This treatment reflects a system uninterested in rehabilitation and focused solely on control. The only indirect reference to the incarcerated comes when Ruiz says, "No matter what ‘they’ do to me." Who is “they”? The video’s ambiguity avoids acknowledging these individuals as human beings deserving dignity and a chance to change. This “us vs. them” mindset isn’t unique to officers; it’s ingrained in TDCJ’s culture, perpetuating division and undermining meaningful reform.
Instead of addressing rehabilitation, the video prioritizes recruitment and retention, focusing on the struggles of staff while ignoring the humanity of the incarcerated. Ruiz’s story is meant to inspire new recruits, yet it sidesteps the truth of incarceration, erasing the voices and potential of those in TDCJ’s care. When Ruiz remarks that no one is perfect, he could have tied this sentiment to TDCJ’s role in helping people move beyond their mistakes. Instead, the video pivots back to his personal narrative, missing an opportunity to humanize the incarcerated and highlight the system’s rehabilitative mission. This omission feels deliberate; acknowledging the humanity of those incarcerated would mean admitting systemic failures.
The video’s focus on the fears of corrections staff such as retirement highlights another imbalance. While staff concerns are valid, what about the fears of the incarcerated? Will they see their families again? Leave prison with hope? Survive the system? These voices are silenced, while staff concerns take center stage, reflecting a system designed to prioritize control over compassion. This video underscores how TDCJ and the corrections industry excel at herding people but fail at helping them. Images of silent incarcerated individuals walking in the background are a stark reminder of this reality. Rehabilitation requires more than rhetoric; it demands action, change, and humanity. Yet, TDCJ’s focus remains on power and control, not transformation. If TDCJ claims to promote positive change, it must start by recognizing the humanity of those it incarcerates. Until then, videos like this will remain what they are: propaganda for a broken system.
Throughout his career, Major Elliot Ruiz from the Holliday Unit has shown strength and resilience, inspiring his team to achieve success. Driven by a passion for spreading joy and sharing knowledge, he leaves a lasting impact every day, making a difference in the lives of those around him. 🌟
General Manager | Strategic Leadership, Hospitality , Food and Beverage Industry
3moI passed by today and was impressed by the lines of people out the door.